Molding machine



Feb. 7, 1950 A. sco'rT `1:1- AL 2,496,604

MoLDING MACHINE Filed April 4. 194e 4 sheets-sheet 1 JW will :lH 1 Wl'Uli l' Un W nlm W MH WE- Feb. 7, 1950 A. scolr'T ETAL 2,496,604

.MoLDING MACHINE Filed April 4, 1946 4 SheetS-Shee'c 2 Feb. 7, 1950 A.scoTT ErAL MOLDING MACHINE Filed April 4, 194e 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 i mi mmfJWU @were 076: Ljzdreza 5c Feb. 7, 1950 A. scoTT ETAL 2,496,604

MOLDING MACHINE Filed April 4, 1946 l 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Fel?. 7,1950 UNITED STATES :PTENT OFFICE MOLDNG MACHINE Andrew Scott, Chicago,and .lames B. Amstutm Oak Park, lll.,assignors lto Crane Co., Chicago,Ill., a corporation of Illinois A'ripplica'tion April 4, 1946, SerialNo. 659,612

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to molding machines .and has for an objecttheprovision of a molding machine which operates automatically through acomplete molding cycle tocompress the sand in a ask, actuatea rapper.,lower the vpattern plate to strip the mold,fand then lower the stripper`plate to its rst'position to complete the cycle of operation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a molding machinelembodyingmeans for applying a predetermined uniorm pressure incompressing the sand to form each mold to insure the formation of moldshaving a substantially equal density. Itis further contemplated that themolding pressure exerted in compressing the sand may be readily adjusted`to suit the operator in order to obtain the proper vpredetermineddensity in molds of different sizes, shapes, etc.

Another object of this invention is to reduce to a minimum the manualeffort required of the operator in forming molds on a molding machine ofthis type.

It is another object of this invention to provide adjustable timingmeans for determining the commencementand duration of :the various stepsthroughout the complete cycle of automatic molding operation.

rIhis invention further contemplates the provision of a molding machinewhich is simple in construction, reliable in operation, and which willnot readily get outoforder due to wear, breakage, or the deleteriousaction of sand against `bearing surfaces.

Anotherobject of this invention is to `provide an improved meansforoperating the stripper frame to improve the quality of the mold and theproducts to be formed therein.

This 'invention embodies other novel features, details of construction,and arrangement of parts which arehereinafter set forth in thespecification and `claims and illustrated .in the accompanying-drawings,forming part thereof, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view .of a molding machine embodyingfeatures of this invention.

' Fig.2 is an enlarged View taken along the line 2-2'of Fig. 1.

f Fig. 3 is a sectional viewta-ken along the line 3-'3 of Fig. 2.

. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the air control circuit employedfor operating the molding machine.

Fig. 5 `is anv enlarged sectional view of one of the timer valves.

Referring now to the drawings (Fig. 3) for a betterfunderstanding ofthis invention, the im-.

proved moldingmachine isv shownrcomprisingea base H having avpistonsupporting member 12 secured thereto by 'means of screws I3.Apiston Ui is securely mounted -xuponthe upper vendof the member l2,and: is provided with suitable sealing rings Il .for leakproof, vslidingengagement with the wall of va lift cylinder l 8. Axguide plate l9isbolted-'to `the lower end ofthe lift cylinder I8 for reciprocableengagement with the piston supporting-member I2,`and isiprovid'ed with awiping seal 2i to remove vany ldirt or sand from the member l2. and topreventthe infiltration of sand and dirt into the cylinder.y Guide shoes22 are secured to opposite sides of the cylinder for sliding engagement`with guide'posts23to prevent rotationalmovement of the cylinder.

VA breather -pipe'Z-'leads from .thev cylinder 1:8

to an air filter (not shown). n

A plate pattern yholder 26;.is -securely,..mounted upon the lift:cylinder 1.8andis5formed withf-a suitable recess 2l `to receive 1.aplate pattern' 28. A. stripper .frame 29.y encloses thefupper. endfofthe holder 26 and is guided for verticalmovement by means of a pair:of-'.gude pins 3l (seebroken `away portion of Fig. 3)y adiustably'mounted-,on vdiagonal corners of the holder for engagement yin guidekbearings32 secured to -thevframel The guide pins 3l also engage'hardened stop buttons 33 when the stripper frame is yin itslower'position to insure that the upper surface 34 of the .stripperframe is ush with or. slightly lower than' the upper surface 36 of the.holder. .Hardened wear bushings'l are provided .in the guide bearings32, and seal washers 38 :are providedl to protect the bearing surfacesvfrom dirt andsand. Arpa-ir of stop pins 39 (Fig. .2) are Jadjustablysecured on the other twolcorners `.of the holder to act with the guidepins 31|:to position' the holder in its lower position.

. A pair of cylinders M aresecured to the zunderside of the stripperframe 29zto receive pistons 42 having shaft vportions Ai3 -projectingdownwardly through cover/plates 44 for engagement with adjustablestop.buttons #6. The'stop buttons are threadedinto the upper Vends vof theguide posts 23 and locked against displacement =by locknuts 41. Annular.seals 4.8;areprovided inthe cover plates 44 f'or'gizprotection againstthe entrance of sand in `cylinder l4.|. A: protective guard i0 isprovided around the cylinders as indicated.

Four ask aligning pins t9V are provided to l-project Aupwardly fromthefupperssurface `36 'of the y holder 26 to engage :in apertures (notshown) provided in alaskragmentarilysreferred .to fat 5I. A rapper 52 isamountedron theholder :below the plate pattern. The plate pattern isheated by means of an electric or gas unit (not shown) mounted insidethe holder 26. The usual squeeze plate 50 is supported on uprightmembers 55 secured to the base II.

Fig. 4 illustrates diagrammatically the combined valve and piping meansemployed for controlling the operation of the molding machine. Air underpressure flows through an inlet pipe 56 from a source of pressure to athree-way control valve 5l which is opened to the air inlet pipe 56 byoperating the handle 58 and is closed to the air inlet and opened toexhaust to the atmosphere by means of a spring (not shown), and thencefrom the valve 51 through a conduit 59 to the interior of the liftcylinder I8 above the piston I4, The inlet pipe 56 also leads through aconduit 6l to the inlet ends of a pair of similar Schrader three-wayadjustable timer valves 62 and 63.

Each timer valve comprises a body 64 having an inlet passage 66 and anoutlet passage 61. A .valve disc 68 having two closure seats 69 and H isreciprocably mounted in the valve body and normally held in its upperposition by means of a helical compression spring 'I2 for closing theinlet passage 66 by means of the closure seat 69. A piston I3 having apiston stem 14 is mounted in a cylinder I6 for actuating the valve disc68. An exhaust passage 'I0 is provided in the lower end of the stem I4and leads from the outlet passage 6l to the atmosphere under control ofthe closure seat 1I. The piston is normally held in its upper positionby means of a compression spring 11 and with the lower end of the stem14 out of engagement with the closure seat l I. An air bleeder passagel5 leads from the interior of the cylinder 'I6 to the atmosphere undercontrol of an air control screw 18.

A conduit T9 leads from the conduit 59 to a spring actuated adjustablepressure relief valve 8| to open upon predetermined pressure, and aconduit 82 leads from the valve 8I to the upper ends of the cylinders'I6 of the timer valves 62 and 63. A conduit 83 leads from the outletpassage 61 of the timer valve 62 to the stripper cylinders 4I, and aconduit 84 leads from the outlet passage of the timer valve 63 to therapper 52.

In the operation of the molding machine thus described, a flask 5| ispositioned on the surface 36 of the pattern plate holder 26 and locatedby means of the pins 49, as shown in Fig. 3. After filling the flaskwith sand, the lever 58 of the control valve 51 is actuated by theoperator to permit air under pressure to iiow through the conduit 59 tothe lift cylinder I8 to cause same to move vertically. As the liftcylinder reaches its upper position, the sand is compressed within theflask by the squeeze plate 50 (Fig. l) until the resultant rise in airpressure causes the pressure relief valve 8I to open and permit thepassage of air to the cylinders 'I6 of the timer valves 62 and 63. Thepistons 'I3 are then actuated to seat the valve 'i4 on the seat 'II andsimultaneously to unseat the closure 68 from the seat '69 to permit airunder pressure to pass from the conduit TI, through the inlet passages66, outlet passages 61, and conduits 83 and 84 to the strippei`cylinders 4I and rapper 52, respectively. Upon the operation of therapper, the operator releases the handle 58 of the control valve 51During the downward movement of the cylinder I8, the pattern plate 28 isstripped from the mold by means of the pistons 42 having their shaftportions 43 engage the stop members 46 and thereby stop the downwardmovement of the stripper frame 29 and the flask supported thereon whilethe pattern plate holder 26 continues its downward movement to itsinitial starting position. While the stripper frame is in its strippingposition, the ask is removed therefrom by the operator. During thedownward travel oi the cylinder I8, the compressed air within the timervalves 62 and 63 is being bled from their cylinders 'I6 through theirbleeder passages 'I5 and as regulated by their respective flow controlscrews I8 to permit the springs 'l2 and 'I'I to act to move the closureseats to close the air inlet passages 66 and to open the exhaust passage'I0 The timer valve 63 is regulated or timed to stop the operation ofthe rapper after the pattern plate is stripped from the mold, and thetimer valve 62 acts to exhaust the air from the cylinders 4I after themold has been removed from the stripper frame to permit the lattermember to drop to its loading or starting position.

It is obvious to those skilled in the art that many changes in detailsmay be made without 1departing from the scope or spirit of the invenion.

Having thus described our invention what we claim is:

1. In combined valve and piping means for a molding machine or the like,fluid supply means and conduit therefor including a lift cylinder incommunication with said fluid supply means, stripper cylinders and arapper to be actuated by said fluid supply means, a multi-way controlvalve in said iiuid supply conduit, the said control valve uponactuation being closed to the uid supply and opened respectively toexhaust to atmosphere and to communicate with the interior of the saidlift cylinder, a plurality of multiway timer valves in communicationwith the said fluid supply, each of the said timer valves having a pairof closure seats, and having a piston portion for actuating one of theclosure seats and an air bleeder passage from the said piston mea-ns, apressure relief valve in communication with said lift cylinder andadjustable to open upon predetermined pressure, conduit means leadingfrom the said relief valve to the piston portion of the said timervalves, conduit means from the outlet side of one of the timer valvescommunicating with the said stripper cylinders and conduit means fromthe outlet side of the other of said timer Valves in communication withthe rapper.

2. Valve and piping mechanism for actuating a molding machine or thelike, a iluid supply and conduit therefor including a lift cylinder atthe base of the machine in communication with said uid supply, strippercylinders and a rapper superposed above the said lift cylinder andactuated by iiuid within the said supply conduit, a multi-way controlvalve being in said fluid supply conduit and predeterminedly closed tothe fluid supply and opened to exhaust to atmosphere and communicatingwith the said lift cylinder, a plurality of multi-way timer valves incommunication with the said fluid supply, the said timer valves eachhaving a pair of closure seats and piston means for actuating one of theclosure seats and an adjustable air bleeder passage from the said pistonmeans, pressure responsive mean in communication with said liftcylinder, the said lift cylinder exhausting through the said controlValve, conduit means from the said pressure responsive means to the saidtimer valves, conduitl means from one timer valve communicating witheach of the stripper cylinders and conduit means from the other timervalve in communication with the rapper.

3. An actuating system comprising valves and fluid conduits for amolding machine or the like, the combination including a lift cylinderin communication with a fluid conduit, stripper cylinders and a rapperactuated by fluid Within said uid conduits, a three-Way Valve in one ofsaid fluid conduits, the said latter valve upon actuation being closedto the fluid conduit and opened to exhaust to atmosphere and beingconnected with the interior of the said lift cylinder, a plurality oftimer valves in communication with the said fluid supply, the said timervalves each having a pair of upper and lower closure seats andresiliently mounted piston means and stem for actuating the closureseats, the said piston means being normally maintained in its upperposition and with the stem out of engagement with the lower closureseat, the said timer valves having:V

air bleeder passages from above the said timer piston means, a pressurerelief valve adjustable to open upon predetermined pressure incommunication with said lift cylinder, conduit means from the saidrelief Valve to the piston means of the said timer Valves, conduit meansfrom the outlet side of one of the timer valves communi- 6 eating withthe said stripper cylinders and conduit means from the other of saidtimer Valves in communication with the said rapper, one of said timervalves predeterminedly stopping the operation of the rapper, the otherof said timer valves predeterminedly exhausting the fluid from the saidstripper cylinders to enable the molding machine to return to its moldloading position.

ANDREW SCOTT.

JAMES B. AMSTUTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

